These easy peanut butter cookies are perfect for both peanut butter lovers and chocolate chip cookie lovers out there. One delicious cookie, two delicious flavors.
Peanut butter cookies are such a classic sweet treat. If you’re like me, you grew up with peanut butter cookies. These delicious bites of sweet peanut butter heaven have been a staple of childhood since time out of mind. It doesn’t end at childhood, though. Peanut butter cookies are an easy, classic dessert or snack that everyone loves. I think we fall in love with them in childhood, and then we never fall out of love with them.
I know that’s true for me. I’ve been making the best peanut butter cookies for as long as I’ve been cooking. In fact, they’re one of the first recipes I learned how to bake. They’re just so delicious and so easy. It doesn’t take a lot of ingredients, and they always seem to come out perfectly. This easy peanut butter cookie recipe is a classic example of that. Everyone loves it when I make them, and I think you’ll love them, too.
Easy Peanut Butter Cookies
These easy peanut butter cookies are exactly what they’re called – easy. They come together quickly, and they’re so simple, even beginners can make them. That’s just the icing on the cake, er, cookie, though. The real thing about these cookies that shines is all the peanut butter goodness. I use chunky peanut butter for an extra crunch and texture.
Serve these cookies up with a big glass of milk or a cup of coffee, and you’ve got a snack or dessert that will have everyone coming back for more.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re chomping at the bit to make these cookies, be sure you slow down for a second and take a look at this FAQ. It answers all the most common questions about peanut butter cookies.
Why do peanut butter cookies have fork marks?
Peanut butter cookie dough is denser than many other cookie doughs. The fork marks that are now the classic look that we associate with peanut butter cookies are actually the byproduct of flattening out the cookies so that they bake evenly.
Do you criss-cross peanut butter cookies before or after baking?
Criss-cross the cookies before baking. That criss-cross pattern comes from using the tines of a fork to flatten out the cookies so that they’ll bake evenly.
What’s the best peanut butter to use for peanut butter cookies?
Although we live in an age where everyone wants organic products – and there’s plenty of good reason for that – when it comes to peanut butter cookies, processed peanut butter is best and works better than natural peanut butters. Brands like Skippy, Jif, and the like work the best because the additional oil keeps them creamy and more easily mixed into the dough. It also helps the cookies spread and flatten as they bake.
Should you chill peanut butter cookie dough before baking it?
Although peanut butter cookie dough is denser than many other doughs, it also tends to have a higher fat content. During the baking process, that can lead to the cookies spreading too much. Chilling the dough helps the flour absorb some of the moisture from the fat in the dough, allowing the cookies to spread just the right amount. This chilling is also why we have to flatten the cookies a bit with a fork.
Can I double this recipe?
Absolutely. Simply double up all the ingredients. It will work just fine.
Why are my cookies crumbly?
You probably added too much flour. You’ll also end up with crumbly cookies if you try using margarine or another butter substitute in the dough. Overmixing can also lead to crumbly cookies.
Can peanut butter cookies be frozen?
They sure can! Cool the cookies completely and store them in a freezer safe, airtight container or heavy-duty freezer bag.
Peanut Butter Cookie Variations
You may not realize it, but you can actually make fun tweaks and variations to peanut butter cookie recipes. Most of us are so familiar with the traditional recipe that we don’t think about mixing things up. However, that’s exactly what I did when I added chunky peanut butter. Here are some other fun ideas for mixing things up when it comes to these cookies.
- Use creamy peanut butter
- Add oatmeal and make peanut butter oatmeal cookies
- Add chocolate chips or Reese’s pieces
Easy Peanut Butter Cookies Ingredients
It only takes a few basic baking ingredients to make these delicious cookies. In fact, you probably have all of them in your kitchen right now. If you live in the south, I KNOW you have corn syrup. If not, it’s easily found at any grocery store.
- All purpose flour
- Baking soda
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Butter
- Chunky Peanut Butter
- Granulated sugar
- Brown sugar
- Large egg
- Vanilla extract
- Corn syrup
- Peanut butter chocolate chips
How to Make Easy Peanut Butter Cookies
These cookies are super easy and so good, you’ll be a baking hero without having to do any hard work at all. The dough comes together quickly and easily, and you’ll be in and out of the kitchen in no time.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Prep
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and measure all of your ingredients.
Step 2: Combine the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together.
Step 3: Combine the Wet Ingredients
In a large bowl, mix the butter, sugar, brown sugar, and peanut butter on medium speed with a hand mixer until creamy. Then, add the eggs, vanilla, and corn syrup, beating until combined.
Step 4: Make the Dough
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients mixture and mix well. Then, stir the peanut butter chocolate chips into the batter.
Step 5: Bake the Cookies
Drop the dough by rounded teaspoonfuls or by cookie scoop, or shape dough into 1-inch balls of dough and place them on an ungreased cookie sheet. Then, use a fork to press the cookie dough balls down a bit. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the baked cookies from the oven and place them on a wire rack to cool.
Other Easy Cookies We Love
Try These Delicious Cookies Today
Here are a few more delicious recipes that can be found on the blog:
Or these amazing Chunky Peanut Butter Cookies from Great Grub Delicious Treats.
Easy Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- 2¾ cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1½ teaspoons baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup butter, room temperature
- 1 cup chunky peanut butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon corn syrup
- 1 cup peanut butter chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt together. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat butter, sugar, brown sugar and peanut butter until creamy.
- Add eggs, vanilla and corn syrup. Beat until combined.
- Add dry ingredients into wet ingredients and mix well.
- Fold peanut butter chocolate chips into cookie batter.
- Drop by rounded teaspoon onto ungreased baking sheet.
- Bake in preheated oven for 8-10 minutes.
- Remove from baking sheet and place cookies on a wire rack to cool.
Here are a few pics that are the perfect size for pinning to Pinterest.
